Wallabies' claim suggests All Black camp has sprung a leak

John Connolly

The Wallabies were leaked in detail late last week the All Blacks rugby side they face at Christchurch in a Bledisloe showdown on Saturday night.

The Daily Telegraph reported today that Australia coach John Connolly knew about the All Blacks starting 15 late last week.

Connolly told the paper he became aware of the lineup the same time as the All Black players last Friday.

When told of the side by the Telegraph yesterday, Connolly confirmed he already knew of the All Blacks team for the Tri-Nations series opener.

"We heard the team two days ago," Connolly said.

"Let's just say we heard it on the grapevine. It was named a couple of days ago to the players."

All Blacks management could not be reached for comment.

The explosive suggestion that the Wallabies have secured inside intelligence about their arch-rivals is likely to trigger an investigation behind closed doors in the All Blacks camp.

It comes just weeks after England management went into meltdown on learning the Wallabies had been told of the tourists' team for the second test in Melbourne days before its public release.

The Sunday News yesterday unveiled the All Blacks side for the July 22 test with Mils Muliaina named ahead of Ma'a Nonu, Isaia Toeava and Casey Laulala to fill the contentious centre position.

Leon MacDonald has been installed at fullback, Byron Kelleher at halfback, and Rico Gear on the right wing over fellow flyer Doug Howlett.

In the forwards, former captain Reuben Thorne has missed a place in the game-day squad of 22 players.

Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins and Richie McCaw will start in the back row and Jason Eaton has won the opportunity to partner Chris Jack at lock.

Connolly suggested there were no surprises for the Wallabies, even though Muliaina's selection follows experimentation with three other players in the crucial No.13 jumper in tests against Ireland and Argentina:

"It wasn't off the wall for us," Connolly said. "We expected MacDonald to be in so we anticipated that's what they'd do with Muliaina."

- NZPA